Potential Blizzard Threatens Steelers-Bills Playoff Game

BUFFALO, NY — The Steelers' opponent in their wild card playoff game Sunday is the Buffalo Bills, but they will be battling Mother Nature as well. Forecasters are predicting potential blizzard conditions in Buffalo on Sunday.

State College-based AccuWeather is expecting blizzard conditions and a potentially paralyzing amount of snow in the Buffalo area on Sunday.

"There's going to be a very narrow band of lake-effect snow. I think we have a real opportunity that this can come right into (Buffalo) on Sunday, and if it does, you're going to be looking at 1-3 feet of snow," meteorologist Bernie Rayno said.

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch for the Buffalo area from Saturday afternoon through Monday morning. Heavy lake effect snow is possible, with the potential for more than a foot of accumulation.

Wind gusts are expected to be as high as 65 mph on Saturday. As for Sunday, the weather service says that somewhat lower winds are expected.

The NFL as yet has not announced any plans to postpone the game or move it.

The Steelers are 10-point underdogs on Sunday. They are the seventh seed in the playoffs; the Bills are the second seed.